I fled Cuba to America 56 years ago

On Jan. 1, 2015, I celebrated the 56th anniversary of my arrival to this great country from Cuba.

As Fidel Castro and his band of criminals and thugs made their way to Havana, I was with my parents, sister and other family members, on our way to New York City on the last Cubana de Aviación flight before the fall of Batista’s government.

The past 56 years have brought much misery and despair to the Cuban people as the Castro regime has held a tight grip on the nation denying them fundamental human rights while exporting revolution.

Twelve American presidents have been elected since my arrival to this country, and our policies in dealing with the Cuba issues have gone from bad to worse by the recent decisions of the Obama administration.

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Today, I am thankful to this great country for the freedom and opportunities that they have provided to over 2 million Cuban exiles. But at the same time, I am saddened and concerned by the most recent acts of repression of artists, dissidents and others by the ruthless Cuban government.

In the days and weeks ahead, we will know if the change in Cuba policy will come at the expense of continued repression and denial of those fundamental principles of human rights that we so much cherish and enjoy in this country.